Lieutenant Charles Douglas Scott, Ipswich, 1914
Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich
There has been a fantastic response to The Picture Ipswich ‘World War I – Photo Drive’. A flood of images of local soldiers and their families have been added to the Picture Ipswich database. The men, their images and stories will not be forgotten. Here is one soldier’s story.
Charles Douglas Livingstone Scott was born in Ipswich in 1890, to parents William and Beatrice. The family home was in Waghorn Street, Ipswich. Charles had 3 brothers, Robert, twins – Alexander and William and sister Beatrice. In 1895, Charles aged 4 lost his father who passed away from an attack of English cholera.
Around the age of ten years Charles moved to Peak Crossing to live with his Aunt, Miss M. McConnechy, and attended the Peak Crossing School. He was a splendid shot and regularly went on possum shooting expeditions with other boys in the town. He was a fine swimmer as well as a good horseman.
Charles was a popular rugby league player and played for the ‘Starlights’ Team, North Ipswich as a forward. He represented Ipswich, Queensland (1911 & 1913) and Australia against England, New South Wales and New Zealand in matches played in Brisbane.
Charles began his employment as an Office-boy for Ipswich City Council in 1906 and worked his way up to the position of Junior Clerk. Charles received a fountain pen on leaving the Ipswich City Council in October of 1908. His next employment was a position at The Queensland Times, Ipswich as a reporter. In 1914 he moved on to a position as a senior reporter for The Courier, Brisbane.
Charles enlisted into the Army on 22nd August, 1914. He did his training at the Enoggera Camp grounds along with others in the mounted infantry, the infantry and the artillery units. Sometimes known as Charlie or Scotty, Trooper Charles Scott became a Corporal in the 2nd Light Horse Regiment unit. He embarked for overseas duty with A.I.F on A15, His Majesty’s Australian Troopship “Star of England” on 24th September 1914 from the port of Brisbane, Queensland. Corporal Scott served as an infantryman with other members of the Light Horse Regiment who assisted in the fighting at Gallipoli. He transferred to the Infantry in 1916 and became a Sergeant in the 47th Battalion. He was then transferred to another unit and dispatched to the French frontier. In 1916 Sergeant Scott spent some time convalescing in Weymonth, England. By 1917 Charles had been promoted to second Lieutenant. He was awarded the D.C.M. (Distinguished Conduct Medal) for meritorious work in France.
On Thursday the 7th of June, 1917, Lieutenant Charles Douglas Livingstone Scott age 26 years was killed in Action on the fields of Messines, Belgium. His was buried at Messines Ridge British Cemetery, West Flanders, Belgium.
During his time in the Infantry he was awarded with the Military Cross, the Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He is listed on the following Honour Stones and Memorials: Memorial Hall Roll of Honour, Western Suburbs Honour Stone, Peak Crossing Honour Board, St. Stephen’s Church Ipswich Honour Board, St. Paul’s Church, Ipswich Honour Board.
An article from The Register, 26th June, 1917 reads –
‘Rewards for Bravery’: The following awards to Australian soldiers for distinguished service:-
Military Cross
Second Lieut. CHARLES DOUGLAS SCOTT, Infantry. – He carried out several daring reconnaissance’s under heavy fire, and obtained most valuable information. He has at all times set a splendid example of courage and determination.
Picture Ipswich is still looking for photographs of those who served overseas or at home, and images of the Ipswich community during the war years. If you have photos, documents or other memorabilia, please contact Ipswich Libraries’ Digital Archivist on (07) 3810 7272 or email . All images are scanned and returned to donors.
Information taken Ipswich District Roll of Honour World War 1 by Edwin Habbin, Examination for Office Boy (The Qld Times, Ipswich Herald & General Advertiser 20-09-1906), Personal – leaving ICC employ (The Qld Times, Ipswich Herald & General Advertiser 3-11-1908), Football and other Notes (The Queensland Times 30-08-1913), The Concentration Camp at Enoggera (The Queensland Times 31-08-1914), Personal – Send off from QT (The Queensland Times 20-07-1914), Letters from the Front – Corpl. Charles Scott (The Queensland Times 11-08-1915), Ipswich and District – Military News (The Queensland Times 30-04-1917), Soldiers Letters (The Queensland Times 14-08-1916), Lieut. C D Scott – Killed in Action (The Queensland Times 20-06-1917), The Late Lieut. C Scott – An Appreciation (The Queensland Times 21-06-1917), Personal Notes (The Queensland Times 23-06-1917), Rewards for Bravery (The Register – Adelaide 26-06-1917), In Memorian Lieut. Charles Douglas Scott, M.C. (The Queensland Times 29-06-1917), Public Notices – Special Policy (The Queensland Times 09-03-1918), Roll of Honour ‘In memory’ (The Queensland Times 7-6-1918)